Integrated Nutrient Management

INTEGRATED NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT FOR
DRYLAND AGRICULTURE
AGR-301 DR. G.A. SHAH
1

INM: DEFINITION
Refers to the combined use of organic and inorganic
fertilizers in proper proportion accompanied by sound
cultural management practices in crop production.
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2

INM: NEED
 In arid regions have poor plant cover hence less addition of
plant residues to soil.
 Activities of microorganisms are low due to inadequate
moisture supply and high temperature.
 Weathering is slow.
 Salt accumulation due to poor leaching.
 Natural circulation of nutrients is very low.
 Use of artificial / mineral fertilizers is quickest way to increase
crop production.
 High cost, unavailability and risks associated with fertilizers
restrict farmers to use recommended dose.
 INM is essential to maintain soil fertility and enhance food
production with less harm to the environment.
3

FACTORS CAUSING LOW FERTILITY
(a). Natural inherent
 Climatic conditions.
(b). Faulty management
 Improper crop production technology, i.e. choice of crop,
crop rotation.
 Soil salinization.
 Soil alkalization.
 Inefficient residues and fertilizer use.
 Losses of nutrients, i.e. leaching, volatilization etc. from
soil.
4

INM STRATEGY
 Maintenance or adjustment of soil fertility.
 Plant nutrients supply to sustain desired levels of crop
productivity.
 Focus on cropping system rather than on individual crop.
 Focus on farming system rather than an individual field.
 Does not prevent use of artificial fertilizer.
 Relies on BNF + Organic manures + Artificial fertilizers
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5

PLANT NUTRIENTS: IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
 Plants require 13 elements for their growth and
development.
Macronutrients
Primary nutrients: N, P & K
Secondary nutrients: Ca, Mg & S
Micronutrients
B, Cu, Fe, Cl, Mn, Mo & Zn.
 A cereal crop absorbs 35-46 kg N+P+K to produce 1
ton of grains.
 A grain legume e.g. Soybean absorbs 210 kg N+P+K
to produce 1 ton of grains. 6

PLANT NUTRIENTS: IMPORTANT
INFORMATION
 Out of 17,000 legume species only 200 are being exploited
by human beings.
 Grain legumes fix up to 450 kg/N/ha/year.
 All N requirements of grain legumes are not fulfilled by BNF
alone.
 Application of 12.5 tones/ha FYM or compost in INDIA can
increase yield of different crops by 120-200 kg/ha.
7

SOURCES OF NUTRIENTS FOR CROP
PRODUCTION
 Soil organic matter
 Soil reserves
 Biological nitrogen fixation
 Organic manures
 Mineral fertilizers
 Precipitation and irrigation water
8

BIOLOGICAL INPUTS FOR NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT
BIOLOGICAL PROCESS
 Several soil microorganisms decompose plant and animal
residues.
 Microorganisms regulate nutrient flow in the soil by:
 Immobilization: assimilating nutrients and producing soil
biomass.
 Mineralization: converting N, P and S to mineral form.
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MANAGEMENT
BENEFICIAL MICRO-ORGANISMS
 Symbiotic N fixation between bacteria
(rhizobium/bradrhizobium) + legumes contribute to BNF of
≈450 kg N/ha/year.
 Non-symbiotic and associative N fixer inoculation with
bacteria, e.g. Azospirillum reduce N requirement of non-
leguminous crop by 20 kg/ha.
 Plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) improve plant
growth through hormonal effects and reduce disease severity.
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MANAGEMENT
 Phosphate solubilizing micro-organism (bacteria / fungi)
solubilise inorganic phosphate.
 Vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) help to increase
uptake of nutrients, i.e. P, S, Cu etc.
Faba bean
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MANAGEMENT
Advantages of BNF
 Integral part of N cycling in nature.
 Provide N nutrition to legume instead of artificial fertilizer.
 An economically attractive and ecologically sound process.
 Improve the quality and quantity of internal resources of N.
 Increase biological activity in soil.
 Reduce N losses (by immobilization).
 Improve performance of microorganisms such as
azotobacters, azosporilla, PGPR & VAM.
 Improve soil fertility, soil productivity and crop productivity.
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MANAGEMENT
BIOFERTILIZER BY SEED INOCULATION
Crop specific bio fertilizer (different rhizobia for different
crops).
How to use
 Select right type of bio fertilizers for right crop.
 Inoculant must be fresh and within the expiry date limit.
 Prepare inoculum slurry using a sticking agent such as
Jaggery, rice porridge, gum Arabic etc.
 Mix seed with inoculum by hand.
 Dry seeds on a plastic sheet kept under a shade.
 Sow seeds within 48 hours after inoculation.
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MANAGEMENT PRACTICES TO IMPROVE PLANT
GROWTH AND BNF IN SOIL
 Use high N fixing crops (Faba bean up to 350 kg N/ha).
 Practice mixed cropping and intercropping (row & strip)
with legumes.
 Legumes cultivation can improve crop yield of succeeding
non-legume crop by 0.5-3.0 tons/ha saving up to 120 kg
N/ha
 Use appropriate tillage practices.
Cowpea + maize
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ORGANIC INPUTS FOR NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT
Examples
 Bulky – FYM
 Compost
 Vermicompost
 Poultry manure
 Sheep manure
 Slurry
 Crop residues
 Concentrated – oilcakes
 Slaughterhouse waste
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16
MANAGEMENT
Organic inputs availability in Pakistan (≥230 million
tons/year)
Animal Manures = 185 million tons
Poultry Manures = 3 million tons
Sugarcane Mud = 2.5 million tons
Organic Nutrients = 3.96 million tons (including nitrogen,
phosphorous, potash and micro-nutrient)
Slaughterhouse wastes = 39.6 million tons

MANAGEMENT
 FYM……………….most commonly used.
 Crop residues are recycled by:
 Mulching
 Direct incorporation
 Additional benefits = carbon, calcium, sulfur, micro-
organisms, fiber, etc.
Limitations:
 Less N contents than inorganic fertilizer, i.e. FYM has
0.50% N while urea 46%.
 Need in bulk.
Solution:
 INM
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INORGANIC INPUTS FOR NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENTCommon name Grade or Analysis (%)
N P2O5 K2O Sulphur
Nitrogenous fertilizers
Urea 46 0 0 0
Ammonium sulphate 21 0 0 24
Calcium ammonium Nitrate (CAN) 26 0 0 0
Phosphatic fertilizers
Single superphosphate (SSP) 0 18 0 12
Triple superphosphate (TSP) 0 46 0 1.5
Diammonium phosphate (DAP) 18 46 0 0
Monoammonium Phosphate (MAP) 11 52 0 2
Potassic fertilizers
Sulphate of potash (SOP) 0 0 50 18
Muriate of potash (MOP) 0 0 60 0
Complex fertilizers
Nitrophosphate (Nitrophos) 23 23 0 0
Complete NPKs 15 15 15 5
10 20 20 6.8
13 13 21 6.0

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INORGANIC INPUTS FOR NUTRIENT
MANAGEMENT
FERTILIZER APPLICATION
Form / Type:
As recommended for crop.
Method:
Furrow placement and covering with soil instead of
broadcasting.
Time:
Split N doses instead of one application.
Quantity:
Just sufficient to meet plant demand without adversely
affecting BNF.
Total nutrients availability in Pakistan from inorganic fertilizers

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IMPLEMENTATION OF INM
 Available knowledge can be used for development of suitable
strategy for INM to sustain crop productivity.
 INM is realistic, attractive and environmental friendly.
 INM will enhance the efficiency of biological, organic and
mineral inputs for sustainable productivity in drylands.
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Integrated Nutrient Management

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Integrated Nutrient Management